Heat

[cyberghostface.insanejournal.com]

 

This is from Creepy #114. 

















Now, I'm sure a number of people will probably say "I guessed that they were in Hell." And I'd agree with you--there really should be no doubt after Jack the Ripper makes an appearance.

That being said, I think the writers knew that you would know. They didn't act like it was a huge shock and end it on "We had landed...IN HELL" like The Twilight Zone would have. Rather, they continued on after the revelation and ended the story on a much more subdued note.

Comments

[cyberghostface.insanejournal.com]

I accidentally deleted Bluefall's comment when trying to delete mine so I could repost it. Sorry, Bluefall.

Basically they asked "How can you die if you're already in Hell?" and my response was, "The line about the souls "endlessly victimizing one another" indicates that it's probably a loop of sorts."

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

Obviously, it's hard to discuss when hell is a physical place that you can go to, but there is precedent. Purgatory, Buddhist beliefs about reincarnation... Think of it this way. By letting go of negative emotions, the protagonist is able to ascend to a higher plane.

[stig.insanejournal.com]

In Judaism, isn't hell only a temporary destination for the cleansing of souls before they go to heaven?

[fredneil.livejournal.com (from insanejournal.com)]

Usually, yes. Sometimes someone leads a life that's so bad they don't go to heaven, but those people completely stop existing, rather than spending all eternity being tortured.

That's one school of thought, anyway. As with just about everything in Judaism, the nature of heaven and hell depends on who you ask.

[stig.insanejournal.com]

Certainly it's a nicer, more peaceful idea than the alternatives provided by most sects of christianity.

[interrobamf.insanejournal.com]

It's called "Gehenna", to be specific, and people spend up to a year in it.

Judaism really does have a lot nicer afterlife than Christianity, overall.

[stig.insanejournal.com]

It would appear that the main character only escaped hell because he was Jewish and had been taught that he would.

[(Anonymous)]

The astronauts aren't dead initially- they're still in contact with HQ, after all. Think of it like Orpheus journeying through the Underworld- he's physically walked to the land of the dead, but he isn't dead himself. Just passing through.